Junior Beauty Writer Mollie Hammond tells you how to pick the perfect scent for her

If you get a bit frazzled by fragrance, you’re not alone. Most of us have no idea what we’re doing and make a one-spritz decision. Well, DARE’s Junior Beauty Writer is here to talk you through the ins ’n’ outs of perfume picking and tell you about two of her fave scents. So whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone special, you’ll know exactly what you need to do – just in time for Valentine’s Day…

Scent styles

When choosing a perfume, it’s important you know what kind of scent you’re looking for. Confused? Let us elaborate…

Fresh: These are the kinds of scents that wake you up in the morning. Think zingy citrus and invigorating herbal notes such as orange, lime and mint.

Floral: Now these scents are just about as feminine as you get. With pretty floral notes, such as rose and jasmine, they’re perfect for gals who like a sweet-smelling fragrance.

Woody: These scents are a deeper, earthier option – perfect for date night *wink wink*.

Oriental: These are the spicy scents, so if you like the warming smells of cinnamon and vanilla, for instance, this is the scent style for you.

Not sure on notes

What in the name of Nora are notes when they’re at home? Perfume professionals talk about scent as if it’s sheet music, and it can be a bit baffling. But it’s all about what happens to scent as it dries on your skin.

Top notes: These are what you smell when you first spray the perfume. And although first impressions are important, top notes evaporate quickly (usually after about five minutes), so let the scent linger a little before you make a decision.

Heart notes: These are the smells that come through after the top notes have evaporated, and they combine with the base notes to give the overall impression of the scent.

Base notes: These are usually heavier scents, like sandalwood and patchouli. They don’t develop until about an hour after the first spritz and linger longest on the skin.

Eau de what?

All we mean when we talk about scent concentration is the strength of the perfume. Put simply, the higher the concentration, the stronger the scent and the higher the price…

Eau de toilette: This kind of scent contains the lowest concentration of perfume oil, so it’s a subtle smell and shorter lasting. It is also the cheapest in the range.

Eau de parfum: If you can afford to splurge a bit more, eau de parfum has a higher concentration of perfume oil, which makes the scent a little bolder.

Parfum: This is the strongest kind of scent and also the most expensive.